Thousands started off the New Year by watching The 130th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California.Â
If you watched you might have spotted a special float during the parade, with some familiar faces. The Nevada Donor Network and Donor Network West had a float honoring 42 people who donated their organs, with their portraits made out of floral materials, called Floragraphs. Out of the 42, two were locals.
Hunter Weiss passed away at the age of 20. Just two months before he passed he signed up to be an organ donor. "He specifically decided to donate his eyes, why, I don't know. I didn't even know he signed up until after his passing," explains his mother Karen Weiss. You can read more of Hunter's story here: https://bit.ly/2F6BIjU
Another donor honored was Haylee Ponte, who passed away at age 19 in 2015 from an asthma attack but her organs helped to save lives. Her mother says she's now become an organ donor because of her daughter's choice. "I knew in my heart that that's what I wanted to do, I wanted to be able to help someone in need and see down the road that somebody's life had been changed because of this," says Nancy Ponte.
Halyee's family arrived in Pasadena early to meet Janis Drexler of Riverside, California, the woman who is now able to see clearly thanks to Haylee's gift of sight. "She is my angel, I have a picture of her on my phone. I look at her everyday and I thank her everyday."
There are more than 116,000 people waiting to receive a lifesaving organ transplant, 600 reside in Nevada. Anyone can register as a donor at the DMV or online: https://www.donoregistry.org/Register/nv/en#/enroll
